Descending Darkness(52)

Ten minutes later, I get out of the shower and run a towel through my wet hair. I can hear Colton in the bedroom rummaging through his drawers. I quickly get dressed and check my reflection in the mirror. I look…eh, I really don’t care. I’m not really trying to impress anyone. I already have the only person I’d want to impress. I slowly open the door. When I make sure that Colton is completely dressed, I walk out of the bathroom and find him sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for me.

I call my magic to me and trail my finger across his chest. When he feels the shock again, he jumps up and grins evilly at me. I run out of the room laughing. Instead of heading toward the stairs like he’s expecting, I run down the hallway, stop at the end, and watch as he moves toward the stairs. He looks over the railing, down into the living room, searching for me. Not finding me downstairs, he turns around. When he sees me, I stand my ground and start laughing as he comes toward me. He is expecting me to do something. When he is a couple feet in front of me, I throw up a shield around me. I can’t help but giggle as he bounces off of it. He is smiling at me, shaking his head. Narrowing his eyes, he gives me a look that says challenge accepted.

I drop the shield, and he comes toward me again. Grabbing me around the waist, he starts tickling me. I lean forward, laughing, desperately trying to get away from his hands. “Mercy!” I yell when I can’t breathe anymore. When he lets go of me, I step away from him, narrow my eyes, and concentrate on my magic. When I see the little cloud forming above his head, I jump up and run toward the stairs.

Instead of going down like a normal person, I jump over the railing, flipping down to the first floor. Calling my magic to me, I ask it to slow my fall. I feel the pressure beneath my feet as my magic slows my descent. My feet hit the ground, and I put my arms out to balance myself.

When I don’t fall, I look up and see Colton leaning over the banister railing. I start laughing, surprised at my own actions. “Oh my gosh, that was so cool!” I squeal and look into the living room. Everyone is watching me. I bite my lip to hide my smile and casually walk past everyone and sit on the couch.

“What was that about?” Liam asks me.

I turn toward the stairs and watch as a very wet Colton comes down, shaking his head at me with each step. “He tickled me.” I call wind to me and dry him off. When I pull my magic back, Colton turns toward me, giving me that coy smile. I scoot closer to Liam on the couch as Colton makes his way over to me. When I can’t go any farther, I throw up a shield around me.

“I won’t tickle you,” Colton says.

“Do you promise?”

“Yes, I promise I won’t tickle you.” He is standing at the edge of the couch, staring down at me waiting for me to pull my magic back.

“Do you pinky promise?”

“How can I pinky promise you if you have a shield up?” he asks me. Hmm, good question. My soulmate is smart.

“Do you metaphorically pinky promise?” I ask. David and Bragden start laughing at me. “You can never be too safe!”

“I metaphorically pinky promise that I won’t tickle you,” he says.

“Because I told you, I have eighteen years to make up for. You can’t get me back during this time. It’s a rule.”

“Who made up these rules?”

“I did. That makes it official. Ryanne official. It doesn’t get much higher than that.” I point at David. “No short jokes!”

“Are you reading my mind?” questions David.

“No, I just know you.” I turn back to Colton.

“Ryanne, I’m not going to tickle you,” he tells me through a smile. I slowly pull the shield back and let him sit beside me. He keeps his hands out where I can see them as he sits down. I eye him suspiciously before I scoot closer to him again. Colton wraps his arm around me and pulls me into his side. I smile up at him as I rest my head on his chest.

“Aww, I want that,” Natalie says and looks toward Emma. Emma smiles and nods while watching Colton and I. Why are they watching us?

“Want what?” I ask Natalie.

“What you guys have. That playful but completely serious relationship you two share. I’ve never had a relationship like that.” Conner scoffs when she mentions her previous relationships.

“What’s wrong, Conner?” I ask him.

“He’s angry about my last relationship,” Natalie answers for him.

“If that’s what you call it,” Conner says under his breath.

“What happened?” Emma asks. I can tell that Natalie is uncomfortable with the direction this conversation has turned.